HOLLISTER, CA (April 4)--The BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC), a national trail-based recreation group, intends to petition a state panel to address concerns about the original "science" used by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as the basis for the 2008 emergency closure of the 75 thousand acre Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA). BRC will be submitting several still unanswered questions regarding scientific integrity and agency liability to California State Park's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation (OHMVR) Commission during their hearing on April 5, 2011. The meeting will be held at the Veteran's Hall, 649 San Benito Street, Hollister, CA 95023 from 10:00 am until adjournment.

BRC has often raised concerns about the integrity of the "science" used by the EPA and BLM upon which the May 1, 2008, emergency closure order was based. The agencies have not yet answered these questions during the formal planning process. BRC has particularly expressed concern about BLM's apparent but unjustified fear of liability in justifying closures of public lands.

Don Amador, Western Representative for the BlueRibbon Coalition, states, "I believe the OHMVR Commission is our best and last hope of obtaining answers from the federal agencies to the public's legitimate concerns."

"Unless the Commission or Congress intervenes, it appears the BLM and EPA will continue to stick their head in the sand when it comes to looking at new science or public input. This could be our last chance to have the BLM, during the administrative process, review and reopen the largest landscape level closure of its kind in US history," Amador concludes.

*BRC letter embargoed until 10:00 am on April 5, 2011.
Link to letter in pdf.
http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Hollister_CCMA_BRC_Comment_Letter_April.5.20110001.pdf

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group that champions responsible recreation, and encourages individual environmental stewardship. With members in all 50 states, BRC is focused on building enthusiast involvement with organizational efforts through membership, outreach, education, and collaboration among recreationists. 1-800-BlueRib - www.sharetrails.org